Thurston County woman pleads guilty to shooting husband in back

A Thurston County woman faces up to three and a half years in prison for shooting her husband in the back.

Cynthia L. Fetterly, 57, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree assault/domestic violence with a deadly weapon. She will be sentenced Sept. 29 at Thurston County Superior Court.

The incident took place March 29 at the couple’s home in Rochester. According to court documents, Fetterly told a deputy at the scene that she accidentally shot her husband after they had been arguing in the garage.

When the husband had gone outside the garage door, Fetterly told the deputy she retrieved a .38 revolver and fired a single shot through the door, striking her husband in the lower back, according to court documents.

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Fetterly told a deputy that she needed to protect herself, but could not explain why, as her husband had not assaulted her, according to documents. The deputy also reported smelling alcohol on Fetterly’s breath.

Prosecutors have recommended a sentence of 42 months. According to Judge Anne Hirsch, the sentence comes with a 36-month firearm enhancement. This is also considered a “first strike offense,” and Fetterly faces life in prison if she accumulates three strikes, Hirsch said.

As a sheriff deputy put handcuffs on Fetterly and escorted her out of the courtroom, Fetterly looked at her husband and said “I’m sorry.”

Documents show that in July, the court denied her husband’s request to rescind a no-contact order.